The story starts

Author's note: This is another timeline with a different Main Character from my other novel: Wandering through the stars. For a more enjoyable experience, please read the first volume of said novel. This story will have one big volume. Enjoy it!

In the mountains of a nameless forest, many villages were built by refugees of war. A war that would never end.

Even the gods became tired of it. They left one by one until only one remained. The Goddes of Light, Bilenta.

Just before leaving, she looked at her poor children crying on the ground and left a prophecy behind: 'Only when the true king rises will peace come to you!'

What the Goddes didn't expect was for the cruelest war in the whole of history to start. And that was because every army leader, either small or big, proclaimed himself or herself as the true king.

Most people who couldn't fight had only one choice: to flee! They went to the forbidden forest, infested by monsters, and tried living while hiding.

One day, a pair of men arrived in one of the villages. Behind them was a cart pulled by a mule, followed by a long line of 3 shackled people.

They had started with approximately 20 slaves, but who knows where they were now? Were they sold? Or did they die of starvation? Was it some kind of disease that was rampaging around? Or were they killed by their owners?

There are too many causes to just blindly guess. But who would care in this place where human life was worth less than a cooking pot?

The lives of such talentless people were too cheap to care about. They could only be used to hunt animals, build shacks, cook, or for other unpleasant hobbies.

The two traders, one short and fat, the other tall and thin, were old friends. They had been doing this business for years, and they had yet another good harvest this year.

They only had 3 slaves to sell and could return to their homes, away from that dirty place and murky air.

There was one woman, a man, and a boy. There was no particular feature that could distinguish them. Nor were they family, from how each of them kept their distance from the other two.

One villager, probably the chief, was negotiating the prices for whatever was left from the merchant's caravan:

"Sirs, one pilmin for each slave should be enough. I will pay another 10 for the food and 5 for the sickle."

"That can't do! We need at least 12 for food and 7 for the sickle! If we sell it any cheaper, we will lose a lot of money!"

The fat man's face became red. Not sure if from indignation or from the effort he made to yell at the villager.

"Ben. Calm down. It's not that we can't sell for cheaper, but we also need money to return to Barabos city. How about 6 pilmin for the sickle and 13 for food?"

"Ah, this...this, sir..Fine, I will take it. Thank you very much, sir!"

Said the poor villager, unaware that he was playing right in their palm.

"Haiz, Neil. Why are you so good to people? At this rate, we will lose all the money we worked so hard to obtain."

"It's just one pilmin or two. Why do you care so much?"

"Fine, but this will be the last time. You, bastards! Start moving, will you?!"

I was suddenly kicked in my back and fell head-on into the mud. If only my hands weren't tied! I would have taught that fat man how well you could cook his fat on a big fire.

Ah! That would be quite a delicacy...Slurp.

Sensing something, Ben turned toward me, and after seeing my drooling face, he took a step back.

"I am out of here! Good luck with your slaves! Let's go, Neil! Hurry!"

What a pity. If only he would have given me a chance. Now, what should I do? I haven't eaten anything in days.

The villager took us inside. We passed by the wooden wall that seemed to collapse any minute now. How did these guys survive here for so long?

My stomach started rumbling again, but instead of food a small knife. I was forced to make some kind of basket from thin strips of lumber.

It was night when I was given some food. I ate it slowly, trying to not upset my stomach. It was some kind of starch mixed with water. At least it was something.

I looked for more, hoping to get more energy for what I had planned that night. I found a fountain and threw the bucket inside. At least the water was clear and refreshing. But, besides the other two people's own bowl, there was nothing else.

When the night fell, the man and I were given a shack to spend the night.

After ensuring the man slept, I got up and headed to the villager's house. I barely managed to find my way in the profound darkness. Although the moon was beautifully shining, the humongous trees blocked its light from reaching down.

As soon as I entered the house, I heard some moans of pain coming from one of the rooms. Was it coming from that woman? Poor thing.

I found the kitchen and took some food from one of the cupboards. After eating until I was full, I took some knives and a metal pot and stuffed it with food before sealing it with a wooden plank.

After that, I rummaged in the rooms and took all the clothes that fit me. I also found a leather belt and tied a knife with its sheath.

I took a look and saw that I wasn't found out. The cries were still going on, but I couldn't risk my freedom just to save a person.

Just as I was slowly making my way outside, a scream came from outside:

"Monsters! Monsters have invaded!